Remember?, all those years ago, when there was outrage over Walmart moving into these small towns and decimating local businesses? Local groups lamented the loss of diversity, the loss of jobs. Economists talked about efficiency and benefits. Well, as much as that sucked, what’s happening now looks much worse.
I was speaking to a friend of mine recently, and the talk steered toward the closure of businesses and the lack of diversity of shops in our neighborhood. He went on and on, talking about how there are no stores left to go to, other than coffee shops, nail salons and restaurants. Then he proceeded to tell me about all the great stuff he bought on Amazon. I waited for the light bulb to go off or the connection to happen. The connection didn’t happen.
You know what is going to happen the next time you need something quick from the hardware store, or some other store? It’s not going to exist and you will be forced to rely on Amazon. The more you shop there to the exclusion of other places, the more beholden to them you make all of us.
This is the hidden cost of convenience. Except it’s not that hidden. It’s happening in plain sight. You want to know what also goes as these stores go? Jobs and property taxes. So now, you are going to pay more in property taxes (yourself) so you can keep your city going. And you are shipping your dollars outside of your community to some other area.
Then there is the environmental cost. In theory, online delivery should be better for the environment because it saves people from individually driving to the store in their vehicle to pick up things. But that’s not what happens. You will still drive to the store, just buy less stuff. And you won’t agglomerate your online purchases, rather you’ll purchase them willy-nilly so that they show up on different dates in multiple different packages, burning more fuel.
Not to mention the packaging, ridiculous amounts of cardboard and plastic. Oh what, you say? It gets recycled. Nope. Recycling is bullshit. And for those people who buy multiple sizes and then return the ones that don’t fit? YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
And, I get it! Amazon is incredibly convenient. I admit, lots of time there is no other option to get something. But that is precisely the point! We have put ourselves in this situation. And the only way out is by shopping elsewhere and reducing their market power.
So, get off your ass, off your computer, and walk or bike or scoot to the areas closest to your neighborhood. And start to buy stuff from the shops there. It’s not easy, but it’s good for you, and your community. (Also, buy less stuff)
So, stop it. Stop being an asshole. Stop shopping at Amazon.
For people living in rural areas, this isn’t aimed at you. The options aren’t the same outside of the city, but my guess is that you probably have been witness to the destruction of local communities because of big box stores and the likes of Amazon.
In case you needed further justification, here are more reasons Amazon is evil.
Amazon started by cheating the system and not paying sales taxes.
They actively try to prevent unions from forming.
They treat their workers terribly.
Unsustainable Me 